Larimer County commissioner District 3 race too close to call

Late Tuesday night had it at 51 percent for Donnelly to 49 percent for Stockley with more votes to count

By Pamela Dickman Reporter-Herald Staff Writer

Posted:
11/06/2012 10:22:00 PM MST

Larimer County Commissioner District 3 candidate Karen Stockley, back, chats with people at a gathering of the Larimer County Democrats on Tuesday at the Fort Collins Mariott.

Republican Tom Donnelly and Democrat Karen Stockley nervously watched the results of the race for Larimer County Board of Commissioners, but the margin was too close to call with thousands of votes still out late Tuesday night.

The unofficial results as of 10 p.m., with 157,232 ballots counted, showed incumbent Donnelly leading by 2,545 votes or 51 percent to Stockley's 49 percent.

"There's still a lot of votes out there," said Stockley, a Berthoud resident who owns a business in Fort Collins and has served on the Thompson school board.

"I think it's going to be hard to overcome 2,000 votes, but we've still got some waiting to do. We're hopeful, but it's been a tough race."

Donnelly, a land surveyor from Loveland, is hoping to serve a second term on the board alongside fellow Republican Steve Johnson, who was running unopposed for his seat.

Donnelly estimated 25,000 more votes to count as of 10:30 p.m., mostly from more rural areas of the county.

"We do expect the lead is going to hold," said Donnelly.

If Johnson and Donnelly are both reelected, it would be the first time since 1972 that two incumbent Larimer County commissioners were reelected on the same ballot, according to Donnelly. One of the 1972 winners, Warren Wolaver, was rooting for Donnelly.

"He's been a very good county commissioner," added Fern Wolaver, wife of the 93-year-old who served Larimer County from 1960 to 1976.

"We're really honored that the people put their faith in us, and we are excited to be bucking history," added Donnelly.

Waiting for the results with Donnelly were his wife and four kids. His oldest son, 12-year-old Jack, spoke adamantly on behalf of his father.

"He'll work hard," Jack said. "He'll get it done ... He loves his family more than anything else. That's why he runs."

Donnelly and Stockley are vying for Commissioner District 3, which covers Loveland and the south end of the county. Commissioners must live in the district in which they serve, but the votes are tallied countywide.